Vacuum process for production of steel.



E. DOLENSKY.

" VACUUM PROGIBSS FOR PRODUCTION OF STEEL.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.22, 1912.

1,1 81,488 Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

'z'n y I n IYLU'QTLSCOT. 7

M WW %@M W Horney.

EUGEN noLENsxY, or FRANKI-OBT-ON-THE-MAIN, GERMANY.

VACUUI PROCESS FOR To all cckom it may concern Be it known that I, EUGEN DoLnNsKY, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at r F rankfort-on-the-Main, in the Province of Hesse-Nassau, Prussia, Germany, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Processes for Production of Steel and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the-invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

ThlS invention relates to the manufacture of steel of high quality and more particularly to a process'for clearing the same.

It is a well known fact that molten steel is much improved if the gases and particles of slag in it are separated and removed, and it is of great importance during this separating and removing, or clearing process'that the fluid steel retain its fluidity as long as possible, and in order to bring about thisdesired result some method for retarding the cooling of the steel must be used.

The objects of this invention are two- ,fold. first to further accelerate the clearing of the steel and second to protect it from rapid coolingrso that it will-retain for a. lon time its fluid state.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the form of apparatus which is most generally used in carrying out my process. though I do not wish it to-be understood. that the invention is limited to the specific details ofconstruction shown therein.

- 'In carrying out my process. the fluid steel is placed in a clearing container A,; of the usual size and shape, preferably of iron and lined with a refractory heat insulating ma- 40 terial, such as chamotte, and looselv co ered with a preferably chamotte cover 'B, These clearing vessels are thenplaced'in a second container or pit' C likewise preferablv lined with a refractory material. having a flange 0 upon the upper edge adapted to havea cover D fastened ther'eto in an airtight manner, such as by packing. The pit is then exhausted by means'ofany suitable vacuum pump E and the fluid steel allowed to remain in the pit until the clearing has been I completed, after which the pure steel may be poured off. The clearing vessel may if Specification of Lettcrs Patent.

Application filed October 22, 1912. Serial No. 727,122.

rnonucrron OF'STEEL. L

it is desired have an air pipe or pipes F located therein to equalize the air pressure within the container. It is highly desirable that both the container .and pit be heated Patented Man-,9, 1915.

before the fluid comes in contact therewith,

to about the melting point of the steel, and

for this purpose I preferably use a flame of,

.Water gas, such as is generally used in a Martin furnace for melting the steel,-water gas being free from all ashes and sulfur. c The advantages of my inventionare manifold; by placing the clearingcontainer in a vacuum, loss of heat is greatly reduced as it is well known that a vacuum gives the best possible protection againstloss of heat, and

the clearing is greatly accelerated; thus the vacuum serves the double purpose of retaining the heat and accelerating the clearing of the liquid. Besides assistingin the clearing, there is no danger of the steel becoming viscous, even though the container;

remain in the pit for hours, due to the slow cooling of the liquid. Further the use of the vacuum-pit renders the steel less liable to renders to the greatest possible degree, the certiiinty of obtaining a. perfect quality of stee 4 Having thus described my inventionwh'at I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: y

1. A process for purifying metals. consisting in heating ayclearing vessel to the temperature ap roximately of the molten metal to be purified. placing the molten metal therein and subjecting same to the action of a' vacuum. substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A process for purifying metals. consistdisturbance during the clearing period, and

fling in-placing a clearing vessel, heated apv proximately to the temperature of the molten metal to be purified and containing the molten metal. within a second container, J

- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' --EUGEN DoLENsKY.

,Witnes esr Y i Famomcrr Cam,

Max HERMANN Horrmm. 

